1 Amakhosi 2
1 Kwathi isikhathi sokuthi uDavida afe sesisondele, walaya indodana yakhe uSolomoni.
And the days of David drew nigh that he should die, and he charged his son Solomon, saying:
2 Wathi, “Sengiseduze ukuyiphetha indlela yemhlabeni. Ngakho qina, zitshengisele ubudoda bakho,
I am going the way of all flesh: take thou courage, and shew thyself a man.
3 unanzelele lokho okufunwa nguThixo uNkulunkulu wakho: Ukuhamba endleleni yakhe, ugcine imilayo leziqondiso zakhe, imithetho yakhe kanye lezilayezelo zayo: Hamba ezindleleni zakhe, ugcine izimiso zakhe leziqondiso zakhe, imithetho yakhe lokulotshiweyo ngokoMthetho kaMosi, ukuze uphumelele kukho konke okwenzayo kanye lalapho oya khona,
And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and observe his ceremonies, and his precepts, and judgments, and testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses: that thou mayest understand all thou dost, and whithersoever thou shalt turn thyself:
4 ngalokho uThixo uzagcina isithembiso sakhe kimi: ‘Nxa isizukulwane sakho sizananzelela izindlela zokuphila kwaso, njalo sizahamba ngobuqotho phambi kwami ngezinhliziyo zaso lasemoyeni waso, awuyikwehluleka uswele indoda ezahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi ko-Israyeli.’
That the Lord may confirm his words, which he hath spoken of me, saying: If thy children shall take heed to their ways, and shall walk before me in truth, with all their heart, and with all their soul, there shall not be taken away from thee a man on the throne of Israel.
5 Wena ngokwakho uyakwazi ukuthi uJowabi indodana kaZeruya wenzani kimi lekubulaweni kwabalawuli bamabutho ako-Israyeli, u-Abhineri indodana kaNeri lo-Amasa indodana kaJetha. Wababulala, wachitha igazi ngesikhathi sokuthula kwangathi kusempini, ngalokho igazi langcolisa uzwezwe okhalweni lwakhe lenyathelo ezinyaweni zakhe.
Thou knowest also what Joab the son of Sarvia hath done to me, what he did to the two captains of the army of Israel, to Abner the son of Ner, and to Amasa the son of Jether: whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war on his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.
6 Yenza lokho obona kufanele kuye, kodwa ikhanda lakhe elimpunga ungavumeli lingcwatshwe ngokuthula. (Sheol h7585)
Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoary head go down to hell in peace. (Sheol h7585)
7 Kodwa ube lomusa emadodaneni kaBhazilayi weGiliyadi babengabanye balabo abazakudla kanye lawe ethaleni lakho. Bona bema kanye lami nxa ngangibalekela umfowenu u-Abhisalomu.
But shew kindness to the sons of Berzellai the Galaadite, and let them eat at thy table: for they met me when I fled from the face of Absalom thy brother.
8 Njalo ukhumbule ukuthi, wena ulendodana kaGera uShimeyi ongowakoBhenjamini oweBhahurimi owangithuka kabuhlungu mhla ngisiya kuMahanayimi. Wathi lapho ezongihlangabeza eJodani, ngafunga ngoThixo ngathi: ‘Angiyikukubulala ngenkemba.’
Thou hast also with thee Semei the son of Gera the son of Jemini of Bahurim, who cursed me with a grievous curse, when I went to the camp: but because he came down to meet me when I passed over the Jordan, and I swore to him by the Lord, saying: I will not kill thee with a sword:
9 Kodwa loba kunjalo ungabonakana ukuthi umsulwa. Uyindoda elengqondo ekhaliphileyo, kumele ukwazi ozakwenza kuye. Yethula ikhanda lakhe elimpunga liye emangcwabeni ligcwele igazi.” (Sheol h7585)
Do not thou hold him guiltless. But thou art a wise man, and knowest what to do with him, and thou shalt bring down his grey hairs with blood to hell. (Sheol h7585)
10 Kwaba yikwedlula kukaDavida esesiya kubokhokho bakhe abafayo wayangcwatshwa eMzini kaDavida.
So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David.
11 Wayesebuse okweminyaka engamatshumi amane ko-Israyeli, iminyaka eyisikhombisa eHebhroni kwathi engamatshumi amathathu lemithathu eJerusalema.
And the days that David reigned in Israel, were forty years: in Hebron he reigned seven years, in Jerusalem thirty-three.
12 Ngakho uSolomoni wahlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sikayise uDavida, umbuso wakhe wagxila waqina.
And Solomon sat upon the throne of his father David, and his kingdom was strengthened exceedingly.
13 Kwathi u-Adonija, indodana kaHagithi, waya kuBhathishebha, unina kaSolomoni. UBhathishebha wambuza wathi, “Kambe uza ngokuthula na?” Yena waphendula wathi, “Ye, ngokuthula.”
And Adonias the son of Haggith came to Bethsabee the mother of Solomon. And she said to him: Is thy coming peaceable? he answered: Peaceable.
14 Waqhubekela phambili wathi, “Kukhona engifisa ukukutsho kuwe.” Wathi, “Ungatsho lokho oza ngakho.”
And he added: I have a word to speak with thee. She said to him: Speak. And he said:
15 “Njengoba usazi ukuthi ubukhosi bebungobami. U-Israyeli ubekhangele ukuthi yimi inkosi yabo. Kodwa izinto seziguqukile, ubukhosi sebuthethwe ngumfowethu, ngoba yena ubuphiwe nguThixo.
Thou knowest that the kingdom was nine, and all Israel had preferred me to be their king: but the kingdom is transferred, and is become my brother’s: for it was appointed him by the Lord.
16 Pho khathesi ngilesicelo engiza ngaso kuwe. Ungabokwala.” Waphendula wathi, “Khuluma isikhalazo sakho.”
Now therefore I ask one petition of thee: turn not away my face. And she said to him: Say on.
17 Yena waqhubekela phambili wathi, “Ngicelela inkosi uSolomoni anginike u-Abhishagi umShunami ukuze abe ngumkami, ngiyazi ngeke ale kuwe.”
And he said: I pray thee speak to king Solomon (for he cannot deny thee any thing) to give me Abisag the Sunamitess to wife.
18 UBhathishebha waphendula wathi, “Yebo kambe, ngizakukhulumela ngikubike enkosini.”
And Bethsabee said: Well, I will speak for thee to the king.
19 Kwathi uBhathishebha esiyakhulumela u-Adonija enkosini uSolomoni, inkosi yaphakama yamhlangabeza yamkhothamela yasihlala esihlalweni sayo sobukhosi. Yathi kabalethele unina isihlalo sesikhosini, unina wasehlala esandleni sayo sokudla.
Then Bethsabee came to king Solomon, to speak to him for Adonias: and the king arose to meet her, and bowed to her, and sat down upon his throne: and a throne was set for the king’s mother, and she sat on his right hand.
20 Unina wathi, “Ungabokwala, ngilesicelo esincane engizasethula kuwe.” Inkosi yaphendula yathi, “Cela mama, angiyikukuncitsha, angikwaleli.”
And she said to him: I desire one small petition of thee, do not put me to confusion. And the king said to her: My mother, ask: for I must not turn away thy face.
21 Unina wasesithi, “Yekela u-Abhishagi umShunami abe ngumfazi womfowenu u-Adonija.”
And she said: Let Abisag the Sunamitess be given to Adonias thy brother to wife.
22 INkosi uSolomoni ephendula unina wathi, “Kungani ucelela u-Adonija u-Abhishagi umShunami? Kuyafanana lokuthi umcelela ubukhosi, kanti njalo yena ngokwakhe umnewethu umdala kulami kanye laku-Abhiyathari umphristi loJowabi indodana kaZeruya!”
And king Solomon answered, and said to his mother: Why dost thou ask Abisag the Sunamitess for Adonias? ask for him also the kingdom: for he is my elder brother, and hath Abiathar the priest, and Joab the son of Sarvia.
23 Ngakho inkosi uSolomoni yasifunga ngoThixo yathi: “Kungani uNkulunkulu angangijezisa mina, loba kabuhlungu kanganani, nxa u-Adonija engasahlawulanga ngokufela lesisicelo esinje!
Then king Solomon swore by the Lord, saying: So and so may God do to me, and add more, if Adonias hath not spoken this word against his own life.
24 Khathesi-ke, ngeqiniso likaThixo ophilayo, yena kanye ongibeke wangizinzisa esihlalweni sobukhosi bukababa uDavida wangidalela indlu yesikhosini njengokuthembisa kwakhe, u-Adonija uzabulawa lamhlanje!”
And now as the Lord liveth, who hath established me, and placed me upon the throne of David my father, and who hath made me a house, as he promised, Adonias shall be put to death this day.
25 Ngakho iNkosi uSolomoni yakhipha ilizwi yathuma uBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, lakanye wamlahla phansi u-Adonija kwahle kwaba yikufa kwakhe.
And king Solomon sent by the hand of Banaias the son of Joiada, who slew him, and he died.
26 Ku-Abhiyathari umphristi iNkosi yathi, “Buyela emasimini akho e-Anathothi. Kufanele ufe kodwa angiyikukubulala khathesi, ngoba wathwala ibhokisi lesivumelwano sikaThixo Wobukhosi phambi kukababa uDavida waba kanye lobaba esebunzimeni.”
And the king said also to Abiathar the priest: Go to Anathoth to thy lands, for indeed thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou didst carry the ark of the Lord God before David my father, and hast endured trouble in all the troubles my father endured.
27 Ngakho uSolomoni wasusa u-Abhiyathari esihlalweni sobuphristi bukaThixo, kwagcwaliseka lelolizwi likaThixo alikhuluma eShilo ekhuluma ngendlu ka-Eli.
So Solomon cast out Abiathar, from being the priest of the Lord, that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he spoke concerning the house of Deli in Silo.
28 UJowabi ekuzweni lelilizwi, njengoba yena wayekade ebambene lo-Adonija engazange enze lokho lo-Abhisalomu, wabalekela ethenteni likaThixo wafika wadumela impondo ze-alithare.
And the news came to Joab, because Joab had turned after Adonias, and had not turned after Solomon: and Joab fled into the tabernacle of the Lord and laid hold on the horn of the altar.
29 Inkosi uSolomoni yatshelwa ukuthi uJowabi ubalekele ethenteni likaThixo lapha afike wazisondeza e-alithareni. Ngalokho uSolomoni wathi kuBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, “Hamba uyemtshaya umbhuqe.”
And it was told king Solomon, that Joab was fled into the tabernacle of the Lord, and was by the altar: and Solomon sent Banaias the son of Joiada, saying: Go, kill him.
30 Lakanye uBhenaya wangena ethenteni likaThixo wathi kuJowabi, “Inkosi ithi, ‘Phuma phandle!’” Kodwa yena waphendula wathi, “Angiphumi, ngizafela khonapha.” UBhenaya wayabika enkosini wathi, “Yiyonale indlela angiphendule ngayo uJowabi.”
And Banaias came to the tabernacle of the Lord, and said to him: Thus saith the king: Come forth. And he said: I will not come forth, but here I will die. Banaias brought word back to the king, saying: Thus saith Joab, and thus he answered me.
31 Ngalokho inkosi yathi kuBhenaya, “Yenza njengokutsho kwakhe. Umtshaye umbhuqe, uhle umngcwabe, ukuze ungigeze mina kanye lendlu kababa kulowomlandu wegazi elingelacala elachithwa nguJowabi.
And the king said to him: Do as he hath said: and kill him, and bury him, and thou shalt remove the innocent blood which hath been shed by Joab, from me, and from the house of my father.
32 UThixo uzamjezisa ngegazi alichithayo, ngoba wahlasela wabulala amadoda amabili ngenkemba ubaba inkosi uDavida engakwazi. Bobabili u-Abhineri indodana kaNeri, umlawuli wamabutho ako-Israyeli, kanye lo-Amasa indodana kaJetha, umlawuli wamabutho akoJuda, babengamadoda angcono beqotho kulaye.
And the Lord shall return his blood upon his own head, because he murdered two men, just and better than himself: and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing it, Abner the son of Ner, general of the army of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, general of the army of Juda.
33 Kungani umlandu waleligazi labo ungahlala phezu kukaJowabi labenzalo yakhe kuze kube nini lanini. Kodwa inkosi uDavida lenzalo yakhe, lendlu yakhe lesihlalo sobukhosi sakhe, angathi ingehlelwa yikuthula okungapheliyo kukaThixo.”
And their blood shall return the head of Joab, and upon the head of his seed for ever. But to David and his seed and his house, and to his throne be peace for ever from the Lord.
34 UBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada wakhwela wafika wamtshaya uJowabi wambulala wayangcwatshwa esiqintini sakhe enkangala.
So Banaias the son of Joiada went up, and setting upon him slew him, and he was buried in his house in the desert.
35 Inkosi yabeka uBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada ukuba abe ngumlawuli webutho esikhundleni sikaJowabi kwathi esikhundleni sika-Abhiyathari yabeka uZadokhi umphristi.
And the king appointed Banaias the son of Joiada in his room over the army, and Sadoc the priest he put in the place of Abiathar.
36 Ngakho inkosi yathi kayibizelwe uShimeyi yasisithi kuye. “Zakhele indlu eJerusalema uhlale khonale, kodwa ungayi ndawo.
The king also sent, and called for Semei, and said to him: Build thee a house in Jerusalem, and dwell there: and go not out from thence any whither.
37 Mhla uzake usuke uchaphe uye eziHotsheni zeKhidironi, uhle wazi ngeqiniso ukuthi uzakufa, igazi lakho lizabizwa phezu kwakho.”
For on what day soever thou shalt go out, and shalt pass over the brook Cedron, know that thou shalt be put to death: thy blood shall be upon thy own head:
38 UShimeyi wayiphendula inkosi wathi, “Lokho okutshoyo kuqondile. Inceku yakho izakwenza njengoba inkosi yayo itshilo.” Ngakho uShimeyi wahlala eJerusalema isikhathi eside.
And Semei said to the king: The saying is good: as my lord the king hath said, so will thy servant do. And Semei dwelt in Jerusalem, many days.
39 Kodwa kwathi sekwedlule iminyaka emithathu, izigqili zikaShimeyi ezimbili zabalekela ku-Akhishi indodana kaMahakha, inkosi yeGathi, njalo uShimeyi watshelwa ukuthi, “Izigqili zakho ziseGathi.”
And it came to pass after three years, that the servants of Semei ran away to Achis the son of Maacha the king of Geth: and it was told Semei that his servants were gone to Geth.
40 Ekuzwa lokhu, wethesa ubabhemi wakhe waya ku-Akhishi eGathi esiyadinga izigqili zakhe. Ngakho uShimeyi wabuya lazo izigqili zakhe evela eGathi.
And Semei arose, and saddled his ass, and went to Achis to Geth to seek his servants, and he brought them out of Geth.
41 USolomoni esetsheliwe ukuthi uShimeyi wayesuke eJerusalema waya eGathi waze waphenduka,
And it was told Solomon that Semei had gone from Jerusalem to Geth, and was come back.
42 inkosi yambiza uShimeyi yathi kuye, “Angizange ngikufungise ngoThixo njalo ngakuqonqonsela ukuthi, ‘Mhla uzake usuke uye kwenye indawo uhle wazi ukuthi ngempela uzakufa na?’ Ngalesosikhathi wathi kimi, ‘Okutshoyo kuqotho. Ngizalalela.’
And sending he called for him, and said to him: Did I not protest to thee by the Lord, and tell thee before: On what day soever thou shalt go out and walk abroad any whither, know that thou shalt die? And thou answeredst me: The word that I have heard is good.
43 Pho kungani ungagcinanga isifungo sakho kuThixo ulalele isiqondiso engakunika sona?”
Why then hast thou not kept the oath of the Lord, and the commandment that I laid upon thee?
44 Inkosi njalo yathi kuShimeyi, “Uyakwazi enhliziyweni yakho konke ukona owakwenza kubaba uDavida. Khathesi uThixo uzakujezisa ngokona kwakho.
And the king said to Semei: Thou knowest all the evil, of which thy heart is conscious, which thou didst to David my father: the Lord hath returned thy wickedness upon thy own head:
45 Kodwa iNkosi uSolomoni izabusiswa, isihlalo sobukhosi sikaDavida sizahlala siqinile ngokuzinza phambi kukaThixo kuze kube nini lanini.”
And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord for ever.
46 Ngakho yakhupha isiqondiso kuBhenaya indodana kaJehoyada, yena waphuma wafika wamnqonda uShimeyi wamlahla phansi wahle wambulala. Ngalokho ubukhosi basebusezandleni zikaSolomoni ngokugcweleyo.
So the king commanded Banaias the son of Joiada: and he went out and struck him, and he died.
